Firefighter Launcher?
Here is an interesting invention that could be used to launch firefighters to the top of a five story building (from Invention - a NewScientist blog).
The old circus trick of firing a person from a cannon is being considered by the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as a way to get special forces, police officers and fire fighters onto the roofs of tall buildings in a hurry.
I'm not sure this would be safe in any situation. Does it include wind direction and speed in its calculations? Coming down on top of the building poses another set of problems. Would there be a big air bag or some type of padding to land on? How would you keep the firefighter from getting injured upon landing? Could the firefighter be launched in their gear or would the gear have to be launched separately?
Climbing the aerial seems a lot easier and safer to me.
Posted May 17, 2006 08:06 AM · Link
· Technology
